Koppelman being sworn in as House Speaker in 2021
WEST FARGO (KFGO) – North Dakota’s Speaker of the House lost his bid to be re-nominated for his seat during his district’s political convention Tuesday. Kim Koppelman fell 19 votes short of challenger Jim Jonas for the second endorsed spot in West Fargo’s District 13 Republican convention.
Koppelman announced that he will honor the results and not seek the nomination via the June Primary election. He said he had considered retiring from the Legislature this year and withdrawing as a candidate before Tuesday’s meeting, but was encouraged to stay in the race by constituents and his legislative colleagues.
The district’s other incumbent, Austen Schauer, retained the confidence of the district’s Republicans, receiving the highest vote total (82).
Koppelman has served District 13 in the North Dakota House since 1995. He’s been House Speaker since 2020.
Jim Jonas is the current president of the West Fargo School Board.
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